Blue Willow Journal

The beauty of Chinese embroidery is exquisitely represented on this Blue Willow cover. The design reproduced here is taken from a panelled skirt called a mamianqun, or “horse face” skirt, a garment worn by Han Chinese women in the traditional dress style known as Hanfu. An ancient form of Chinese clothing, Hanfu dates back more than three millennia to the Song and Liao dynasties, when it became popular due to both its functionality and its aesthetic style.

Originating in the Qing Dynasty (1850–1900), the variation of mamianqun on our cover is called a langaqun, a style characterized by its sharp pleats, often trimmed in black. Shown here is an example made from delicate pale blue silk damask, embroidered in golden silk thread and edged with silk satin.

Today this Blue Willow design can be found in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s East Asia collection.

 

Product: Lined Page Journal

Pages: Mini 176 / Midi 144

Material: 100% recycled binder boards / Decorative printed cover paper / FSC-certified writing paper derived from sustainable forest pulp

Dim: Mini 3.75" x 5.5" / Midi 5" x 7"